Title - Uttarakhand live: Update from the Ministry of Railways

4.55pm Update from the Ministry of Railways

— Special trains have been arranged to evacuate stranded persons from the calamity hit Uttarakhand areas.

— Special Trains have started running from Haridwar. Yesterday i.e. on 20.6.2013, three specials were run to Lucknow, Delhi and Ambala respectively. More specials are being planned as per the requirements.

— In coordination with Government of Uttarakhand, Indian Railways has decided to carry stranded passengers free of cost to their respective destinations.

— Railway administration is ensuring that sufficient Empty Coaching Rakes are sent to Haridwar/Dehradun.

— A Task Force has been set up at the level of Railway Board under Chairman Railway Board, Shri Vinay Mittal to monitor the situation.

— Northern Railway and its Muradabad Division have fully geared up for making appropriate arrangements (Uttarakhand falls mostly under Muradabad Railway Division of Northern Railway).

— The following Senior officers have been deputed as Special officers in charge of four most crucial points:

I. Dehradun-Sh. Sanjeev Garg, Chief Commercial Manager/Freight Marketing–Mob.no. 09717630953

II. Rishikesh -Sh. D. K. Singh, Chief Commercial Manager/Project-Mob.no. – 097171630969

III. Haridwar -Sh. Hitendra Malhotra, Additional Divisional Railway Manager /Moradabad-Mob.no. 09760534001

IV. New Delhi -Sh. Vivek Srivastava, Additional Divisional Railway Manager/Delhi-Mob.no. -09717631001

These Officers are maintaining liaison and co-ordination with the State Civil Authorities and ensuring management and dispersal of passengers by Train services, running of special trains and also ensuring setting up of passenger help booths at these locations to be manned round the clock.

— The following Helpline nos. have been installed:

I. Haridwar: 09760534054/09760534055

II. Dehradun: 01352-622131

III. Rishikesh:01352-434167

— RPF officers with adequate contingent of Inspectors/constables have been deputed at these locations.

— Doctors and paramedical staff in sufficient numbers have been deployed at these Stations.

— Railways have ensured setting up of additional Booking and Enquiry Counters at above Locations for handling the additional requirement of Booking, Enquiries and Refund etc.

— Adequate arrangement of Catering facilities and Drinking water has been ensured at these locations.

— Frequent Announcements through the Public Address System regarding status of Trains and other Passenger related services has been ensured.